GHOUL

A teenage girl and her otherworldly friend uncover the secrets behind unusual happenings.

Fifteen-year-old Lyn’s best friend, Meg, died last year, leaving her isolated. Her family has moved to a new apartment building, further shaking up her life. Lyn meets the neighbors, who mostly seem nice enough, though some people warn her to avoid the grumpy Mr. Cho, claiming that he had something to do with his wife’s death and his son Julien’s disappearance. While unpacking, Lyn finds a comic book that isn’t hers with an ancient pendant tucked inside the pages. The comic reminds her of Meg, who would have loved the creepy story. Struck by a fresh wave of grief, Lyn falls asleep crying, and her tears trigger something magical within the pendant. The next morning, she finds Ghoul, a character from the comic book who’s an angular, solid black creature with a tail, in her room. No one else can see Ghoul, who sticks close to Lyn. They secretly follow Mr. Cho into his dark, sinister old cafe—and when strange events plague the apartment building’s residents, Lyn and Ghoul investigate. Determined to investigate what’s going on, they build an unusual friendship. This heartfelt graphic novel explores grief, loss, and relationships. The dark color scheme with its muted pinks and purples is atmospheric, while the cute and expressive illustrations add levity, lightening the spookiness. Lyn’s Filipino immigrant parents speak a mix of English and Tagalog.

Eerie and poignant.